Lock for vending machines



Feb 27, 11923. H. WENNEBORG LOCK FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed June 9, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 1 A; (v i M [LY/515K156 5 e5. @401, F/m WE /2v WEMNEBOQGr Feb, 27, 11923.. L44633 H. WENNEBORG LOCK FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Jun 9, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 2 Fdb 27 119230 1,446,6U3 H. WENNEBORG .LOGK FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed June 9, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 4 Witnws 62A. cgnveniar HE /2y Mmssorea- W 1 Hag My Patented Fella. 27 1923..

unites WEDTNEBORG, 0E5 SPRINGFIELD, TLLLG'OIS, ASfiGNUFJ 0F GEE-we T0 ENOS $IPINDEL, 0T SPRINGFIELD, TLL'LWUZS.

LQCK VENDING MACETLNEfi.

Application filed June t T 0 all whom it may concern Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Lock for Vending Machines or Ill) the like, of which the following is a specification. r

The invention primarily relates to locks for vending machines such as are used in what are known as self-service stores; but with slight modification is obviously applicable for other uses as will hereinafter appear.

The purposes of the invention are to provide a lock comprising a series of separately operable latches capable of permutation and to provide-a key comprising a series of blades or leaves also capable of permutation in accordance with the various permutations of the latches of the lock; to provide a lock havingj interchangeable latches pressed from sheet metal which may be quickly and easily assembled and may .be variously interchanged to form difierent combinations of the latches of the lock; and a key usable with the lock and having interchangeable blades pressed from sheet metal-which may be quickly and easily as sembled and interchanged in harmony with the assembled latches of the lock, thus admitting of a large number of permutationsof the locking devices; and to provide a lockalul its key which shall be dependable in use, which may be manufactured at relatively small cost and which shall be capable of a very large number of permutations thus adding to the desirability and safety otthe lock. 4 V

l have shown in the drawings a preferred embodiment of the lock attached at the discharge or outlet end of thechute oil a vending machine and will first describe so much of the mechanism of the vending machineas may be necessary to illustrate practical application and use of the lock; and. will.

then describe in detailthe construction of the lock proper and its key. Fig. l is a fragmentary view of the chute of a vending machine showing some of the parts section, also showing articles of merchandise in place in the chute and the box; and also showing, in elevation. parts of the lock. 7 1

in self-service stores the chutes are 1921. Serial he. 37%,,221.

ranged in series or batteries each battery comprising a plurality of parallel inclined chutes; for'thepresent purpose however; it is necessary to illustrate a part only of one chute since all the chutes in a battery are usually alike.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the same mechanism and also showing means for signaling that the stock in the chute with which the lock is connected is almost exhausted and showing means for preyenting the use of the key when the stock is exhausted and the chute is out of commission. Y

Fig. 3 is a section through the box on the line 3-3 of Fig. l. y v

. Fig. i is a greatly enlarged longitudinal section through the lock and through the key taken on the line at of Fig. l. 7 Fig; 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the throat of the lock.

6 is an enlarged isometric view of the detached and inverted key.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section through the key taken on the; line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. ,8 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the screws used to connect the blades of the key.

Figs. 9, 10,. 11, 12 and 13, illustrate af modified construction of the lock and its key.

chute is oscillative on a stationary pivot 15.

Adjacent to the lower end of each chute is a stationary to to of rectangular cross section equipped with a cover 17 connected with the permanent structure by a hinge 25.

The cover is hinged on the main structure and is connected with the hinged chute for a purpose which will beq explained later. For convenience in description, T have shown'a can 18in place in the chute and a can 19/ in place in the box. The rod 20 extends transversely through the box; and is connected with two arms '21 outside the box, one on each side. The upper ends ct connected hy a rod ice v I as ' tate downward with the result that the which traverses the longitudinal slot 23 in the cover 17. The parts being-so'cons nected that when the cover is raised as inaccess to the can dicated in Fig. 1the rod-20; being under the article (in'the present case thecan 19), will raise the article so that it 'will be readily accessible to the user. v

A bent lever 24: pivoted at the outer end of the door is used to raise the door and is also 'usd to push the key into the lock as will be described later.

A transverse bar26 is fixed on the cover 17 (Fig. 2). Two lifting bars 27, one on eachside of the'chute 1d, are connected with;

in the same plane with the bottom of the boxto permit a can from the chute to slide into the box each time that the cover is closed, so long as any cans remain in the chute; but if, by accident or design the cover has been left unlocked .and slightly raised, a can from the chute cannotslide into the box neither can itbe removed from the chute until the cover .isclosed and locked and the key is inserted to unlock the cover and the cover isagain unlocked and raisedto give which will then be in the box. v 3 I. I I l I ,1

A bar 30 is fixedonand extends across the chute. An insulated bracket 31 is stationary .on, the inner face of thebar 30. An in.-

sulated blade 32 is also stationary on the bar. A lever 33 is pivoted atthe free end of the bracket 31 and has a weight 36. An 7 electric generator 34 or any suitable or ap proved construction may be placed in any convenient relat on to the tler of chutes.

(Adjacent to each chute will be placed an electric bell- 35 energized by the generator. While any can 18 remains inthe chute, the member 36" will lie on the can and prevent the lever from gravitating to close the gap between the lever 33 and the blade 32; but if a'can be absent, the member 36 will gravilever 33 will contact with the blade 32 and close the electric circuit to cause the bell 35 to ring and apprise the attendant that the particular chute is empty and needs replenishing.

' The locking mechanism 'as a whole, comprises a lock-element A attached to the in ner front wall of the box 16; a shackle ele-.

ment B attached to the cover 17 and adapted tudinal line" 42-42 of the casing. parallel longitudinalwalls 43 inside the casneeaeoe inclined box 16 and containing'two series of approximately til-shape blades 41, one series'being on each sideof the central longi- Short ing form in conjunction with the top and the bottom plates of the casing, a way 4th in which the key D slides freely. The lower inclined key chute 45 through which successive used keys slide into a suitable receptacle 4C6 inside the compartment containing the merchandisechuteslt. Screw rods 47; extendacross the casing and. support the blades 11 which are oscillative on the rods.

Springs 48 secured in the lower ends of the respective blades 41 bear against rods' 49 which extend through the casing. VVhen' the key acts to press the respective blades outwardly, as will hereinafter appear, the springs 48 .will be stressed and when the key has slid into the way 4A the springs will act to return the blades to their original position. Each blade 41 has arelatively short prong 50 and a longer prong 51. Each prong 50 has at its free end an inclined inwardly extended member 52. Each pron-g 51 has at its free end an inwardly extended hook member 53. The blades i1 are interchangeable and may be of different thicknesses. Each blade'is operative independently of anylother blade.

The shackle structure B comprises two "parallel L-shape plates 54.- secured on the cover 17 and extending inwardly throughthe cover and through the'opening 55 into the casing 40 in line with the way 44:. f

end of the way 44. is in line with a stationary Each plate 5% has at its free end a wedgeshape shoulder-member 56 extending the :tull width of the plate. l

The throat element C is a box likestructure comprising a bottom plate 57,'a top plate 58, and intermediate plates 59; Each plate has a series of holes to accommodate tubular bolts 61. ''-The bolts 61 are inter-- The plates 59 are interchangeable and may be of different thicknesses and difierent widths. A. simple embodiment of the key D comprises-a bottom plate fi l, a top plate 65,'and

an intermediate plate 66; it is obvious however, that the assembled key may comprise a plurality of leaves which may be interchanged in harmony with the assembled Ell aaaaeoa I latches of the lock, thus admitting of a large number of permutations of the locking devices. The plates are united by bolts 69, similar to but shorter than the bolts 61 already described. Each of the plates 64, 65 and 66 has at'each edge of one end of the plate a laterally extended and forwardly inclined member. 70 adapted to engage on the members 52 of the respective blades 41 which are in the same plane with the plates, to press the free ends of the blades outwardly to cause the hook members 53 to withdraw from the shoulders 56, and when all the hooks have been withdrawn the shackle B and the cover 17 may then be raised by pulling upwardly on the lower memberof the lever 24. The effect of raising the lower end-of the lever will be to cause its upper member 24 to push the key D inward, to cause the members 70 to pass the members 52 to permit the key to pass through the way 44 and slide downward to the finger 77, where it will remain until the can 19 has been removed. Continued upward pull on the lever will result'in raising the cover to permit the user to remove the can.. After the can 19 has been removed, the key D will slide downwardly through the chute 45 into the receptacle 46-.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that when the key passes completely into the throat it cannot be withdrawn, but mustslide inward and drop into the receptacle 46. i

The above mentioned vending machines are primarily designed for use in self-service stores. Pursuant to the plan of use the customer or user will go into the store in which complete price lists will be conspicuously posted and will makea list of the articles he wishes to buy and will pay the check clerk for them and the clerk will issue to the buyer the number of keys necessary to' give the buyer access to the articles and make sure that he gets all that he is entitled to, but not more. ltis therefore necessary travel of the key D through the throat C to provide means to prevent taking out more than one article 'each time. the cover 17 is raised; and to provide means for showing conclusively that the key was inserted but no article was in the box 16 and therefore the buyer would be entitled to receive the listed value of the missing article.

I have already described means for signaling that the chute 14 is empty and will now describe the means to preventcomplete while the box 16 is empty; so that the presence of the key inythe throat will confirm the buyers claim that he could not use the key and is 'thereforeentitled to receive th value of the missing article.

Brackets 71 (Fig. 2) are fixed on the casing 40. lever 72 pivoted on the brackets has an extension 73 at right angles to the body of thelever and a finger also at right angles tothe body of the lever. A weight 74 fixed on theshort member of the lever tends to gravitate downward to cause the finger 7 5 to enter the slot 46 in the adjacent plate of the lock casing. When there is a can 19 in the box the can will press against the end of the extension 7 3 to keep the lever 72 in the position shown, but if the can'be 5 To make sure that a can is taken out of slot .7 8 into the way 44 and prevents down-' ward passage of the key through the way so long as the can 19 is in contact with the extension 73, but immediately upon removal of the can the weight 44 will gravitate downward to operate the lever to withdraw the finger 77 from the way 44, to permit the key tosli'de downwardinto the box and'at the same time will cause the finger 75 to obstruct the way 44 adjacent to the lower end of the throat to prevent any other key from traversing the way before another can has arrived in the box. g

If a user claims that he inserted a key but did not receive a can his key will be in the throat if the can is absent, or will be in the way 44 if the can which he should have taken is still in the box.

To guard against the use of counterfeit the plates 41 of the casing are capable of variable arrangement relative to each other;

the blades 59 of'the throat are capable ofto prevent further use of the counterfeit key.

Modified construction.

I will now describe the modified lock and the modified key shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. y

The box shape m e talcasing 80 is closed at one end, except an opening 81 to receive the hinge member of the'shackle and an opening 82 to receive the hook-member of .keys, or the wrongful use of genuine keys, I

the shackle; the other end of the casing is 0 en. The shackle 83 turns on a pivot 84 and has at its free end a notch 85 in which the hooks 86 of the plates 'or leaves 87 engage.

A drawer 88 is adapted to slide into the casing through the open end of the casing.

Stationary stops 89 and 90 limit inward sliding of the drawer. The stop 90 has an inwardly extended member 91, having a hole 92 in line with the opening 82 and adapted to. receive a screw 93 introduced through the opening.

An L-shape keeper 94 is slidable upwardly in the casing to cause its member 97 to engage the stop 89. A screw 95 connects the keeper with the casing. The keeper has an internally screw-threaded bore 96. In the tive plates 87 to normally hold the hooks in v the notch 85 of the shackle.

The key comprises a handle 102, a shank 103 having a transverse mortise 104, a series of interchangeable leaves 105 situated in, the mortise 104 and a screw 106 screwing into the end of the shank and firmly holding the leaves in the mortise.

A. key hole 107, in the wall of the casing, accommodates the key in such relation to the plates 87 that upon rotating the key the leaves 105 will move the respective blades 87- simultaneously to withdraw all the hook members 86 from the notch 85, to release the shackle so that its free end may be pulled outwardly through the opening 82. I

To assemble the lock the drawer 88 containing the plates 87 and the sprin s 100 will be pushed inwardly until the rawer strikes the stops 89 and 90; the keeper will he slid. inwardly until it strikes the stop 89; the screw 95 will be used to connect the akeeper with the casing; and the screw 93 ini 3 serted through the opening 82, will be used to connect the drawer and the keeper with the stop 90. To disunite the parts the procedure just described will be reversed. If it be desired to change the position of the plates 87 relative to each other, the drawer 88 will be slid out of the casing and the screw 99 will be withdrawn; the plates will then be arranged and replaced in the drawer;- and the drawer will be replaced and secured inthe casing.

To readjust the leaves of the key the screw eaeoe Mode of use.

The userv having paidv for and received keys to the value of the articles which he intends to buy will in succession 'go to the v desi nated ,chutes containing .7 the desired artic es. He will note'that the cover of the box at the end of each chute is closed so that the upper end of the throat is flush with the top of the cover and will insert the proper key in the throat. He will then operate the lever 24 to push the key downwardly in the throat to unlock the. cover, and toraise the cover, and will then take the article from the box. If he Wants another article from the 'same chute he will close the cover and insert another key to again unlock the cover and will againraise the cover and take out another article, and close the cover leaving it locked in readiness for the next user; and so on for each'chute visited.

Throughout the specification I have, for convenience in description, called the articles in the chute and box cans; but it is to be understood that many other and different articles of merchandise may be used in the chutes and boxes of self-service stores employing the locking devices herein set forth.

I do not restrict my claims to the precise details of construction shown and described, since minor modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and without departure from my invention.

Claims:

adapted to be engaged bythe hook membersof a plurality of blades; a laminated throat between said shackle members; and a key adapted to traverse said throat and having laterally extended members adapted to engage the respective wedge-members of said blades, to simultaneously withdraw the hook members of all said blades ,from both shoulder members of saidshackle.

2. A key comprising a plurality of interchangeable leaves, each leaf having laterally extended inclined members, in combination with a throat of interchangeable platesarranged to permit free passage of the key;

and oscillative blades in line with the throat and simultaneously operative by the respective inclined membersot the leaves of the key.

3. A key comprising a series of leaves 1 each having a laterally extended inclined 1. A lock comprising a casing, separately member, and one of said leaves having a longitudinal groove, and means detachably connecting said leaves; in combination with a throat having a longitudinal rib engaging in said longitudinal groove of the key to guide inward movement of the key in the throat. v

4. In a vending machine, the combination of an inclined chute adapted to permit downward sliding of articles contained therein; a box in line with and receiving articles, one at a time, from said chute, a hinged cover closing said box; a key-actuated lock in said box and having a throat adapted to i receive a sliding key; a shackle attached] to said cover and co-acting with saidlock, and a, gravitating intercepting-device normally retracted by the pressure of the article in the box and acting to intercept the key in the throat when there is no article in the box. 20 5. In a vending machine, the combination of a box; a hinged cover closing the box, a

shackle attached to said cover; a lock in said box co-acting with said shackle and having a throat; a key slidable in said throat, and 25 a lever mounted on said cover and eiiective to push said key inwardly in said throat and also effective to raise said cover.

, lnwitness whereof I have hereunto signed my name at Springfield, Illinois, this 13th 30 day of May, 1921.

' HENRY WENNEBORG.

Witnesses: v E. P. BARTLETT, 7

WAYNE HUDSON. 

